Riga City Council Education Department Director Resigns After Official Car Misuse

Resignation Following Vehicle Misuse

Ivars Balamovskis, director of Riga City Council’s Education, Culture and Sports Department, has decided to resign after acknowledging that he used an official car nine times in December to travel home after work without making appropriate entries in the route documentation.

Balamovskis explained that the violations occurred during a period when the department was handling several complex tasks, including preparing the municipal budget, implementing the transition to the Unified School system, and planning the school network reorganization. He noted that work often extended beyond regular hours but took full responsibility for the mistake.

The case will be resolved through a pre-trial settlement, and Balamovskis will step down from his position. He expressed pride in the department’s achievements, particularly highlighting the introduction of the unified digital enrollment system for 10th grade in Riga secondary schools, the implementation of the Unified School transition, and the development of cultural life in neighborhoods.

Balamovskis had served as acting director for a long time before being officially appointed as director on March 25 of this year, assuming duties in April.